Ryan Lizza Fired by The New Yorker Over Sexual Misconduct Allegation

The New Yorker said Monday that it had fired Ryan Lizza, the magazine’s Washington correspondent, after it said he had engaged in what it called “improper sexual conduct,” a charge that Mr. Lizza denied.

“The New Yorker recently learned that Ryan Lizza engaged in what we believe was improper sexual conduct,” a spokeswoman said in a statement. “We have reviewed the matter and, as a result, have severed ties with Lizza. Due to a request for privacy, we are not commenting further.”

Mr. Lizza rejected The New Yorker’s characterization of events, but both the magazine and Douglas H. Wigdor, a lawyer representing the woman accusing him of misconduct, said it was accurate.

In a statement, Mr. Lizza said the company’s decision to fire him “was made hastily and without a full investigation of the relevant facts” and “was a terrible mistake.”

“I am dismayed that The New Yorker has decided to characterize a respectful relationship with a woman I dated as somehow inappropriate,” he said via email. “The New Yorker was unable to cite any company policy that was violated.”

Mr. Wigdor, who has filed at least 11 lawsuits against Fox News this year for defamation, sexual harassment and racial discrimination, said in a statement that “in no way did Mr. Lizza’s misconduct constitute a ‘respectful relationship’ as he has now tried to characterize it.”

“Our client reported Mr. Lizza’s actions to ensure that he would be held accountable and in the hope that by coming forward she would help other potential victims,” Mr. Wigdor said. His client has decided to remain anonymous, he added.

Mr. Lizza, 43, has long been a fixture of the Washington press corps, serving as The New Yorker’s correspondent in the capital from 2007 to 2017 after nearly a decade at The New Republic. His last piece for The New Yorker was published on Nov. 24, according to the magazine’s website.

Earlier in the day, similar allegations led the celebrity chef Mario Batali to say he would step away from the daily operations of his restaurant empire as well as the daytime television show he co-hosts on ABC, “The Chew.”

Mr. Lizza’s article in July on a profane tirade by Anthony Scaramucci, the short-lived White House communications director for President Trump, was widely seen as a factor in the president’s decision to fire Mr. Scaramucci only 10 days after his appointment was announced.

In addition to his job at The New Yorker, Mr. Lizza worked as an on-air political commentator for CNN and as an adjunct lecturer at Georgetown University.

CNN said in a statement that Mr. Lizza “will not appear on CNN while we look into this matter.” Georgetown said classes have already finished for the fall semester and “Mr. Lizza will not be teaching any classes next semester.”

A version of this article appears in print on , on Page A21 of the New York edition with the headline: New Yorker Reporter Fired Over Accusation. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe